AUTHOR: De Kay, James Ellsworth
(1792 1851)
TITLE: Zoology of New York, or the New York
fauna; comprising detailed descriptions of all the animals hitherto observed
within the state of New York, with brief notices of those occasionally
found near its borders, and accompanied by appropriate illustrations.
IMPRINT: Albany: printed by Carroll and
Cook, printers to the Assembly, 1842-1844.
COLLATION: 6 pts. in 5 v.: plates (part
col.); 29 cm.
CONTENTS: pt.1. Mammalia. pt.2. Birds. pt.3.
Reptiles and Amphibia. pt.4. Fishes. pt.5. Mollusca. pt.6. Crustacea.
NOTES: Have v. 2, 3, 5 6 in 1 v. Added t.
p.: Natural history of New York... [Div. 1]. Parts 1, 3 and 4 printed
by W. & A. White & J. Visscher. Added t. p., engraved, with vignette.
Part 1 is preceded by historical introduction by Gov. W.H. Seward, and
note on penitentiaries by Hon. John O’Sullivan. General author and
subject index may be found in “Index to publications of the New York
state natural history survey and New York State museum. By Mary Ellis.
1903.’(New York. State museum. Bulletin 66)
Bibliographical lists given in each part. “‘In 1835, the New
York State Assembly appropriated an enormous sum for the time, $104,000
for a complete survey of the geology and biology of the state. Although
may states were ordering similar surveys about the same time, New York’s
was the most impressive and important. Of the thirty thick quarto volumes,
five dealt with zoology…’ (Moore. Nature in the New World, p.
169). 300 copies with coloured plates. The work gives a systematic account
of the birds of the region, with descriptions, synonymies and annotations
of the species, and diagnoses of the genera and higher groups.’ —
Antiquariaat Junk catalogue no. 270
“The volumes on mollusks and crustaceans were published together.
‘In 1835, the New York State Assembly appropriated an enormous sum
for the time, $104,000, for a complete survey of the geology and biology
of the state. Although many other states were ordering similar surveys
about the same time, New York's was the most impressive and important.
Of the thirty thick, quarto volumes, five dealt with zoology, covering
all of the vertebrates, plus crustaceans and mollusks.’ (John A.
Moore, Nature and the new world, p. 169) James De Kay took the
M.D. from the University of Edinburgh in 1819. De Kay worked at the Lyceum
of Natural History in New York, the fourth institution of its kind founded
in the United States. (DAB)” — Jeff Weber, Catalogue
108: American Explorations in Geology & Nature, 2003
REFERENCES: Nissen ZBI, 1064.1;
Nissen IVB, 227; BM(NH), III, p. 1423.
KEYWORDS: 1. Zoology--New York (State)
LOCATION: QL195.D4 1842
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